Iconium
Chief,
So far so good. We've got them on the run.
By the second Sabbath I had Jews posted all over to hinder the proceedings. Just about everyone in the Pisidian Antioch came to hear the men. Just curious but curiosity can be dangerous. The Christians take advantage of any discontent or confusion. Young people, especially get emotionally charged. You know teenagers--any cause as long as it's overthrowing something stable and sacred.
We set men up to challenge and disagree with them on every point. We didn't want the masses to get the impression they were more than a heretical minority. Some of our men got more riled up then necessary and called them names. I don't think the Christians are bad at heart. They're just deluded.
Saul and B. weren't even too upset. They walked out of the synagogue stating loudly that if the Jews didn't think themselves worthy of eternal life, they'd go to the Gentiles. The Gentiles outside cheered and surged forward to hear more. Things were really getting out of hand. People were being drawn in by the hundreds.
I rounded up some of the prominent Jewish leaders and the society women and intensified the operation. It's hard to control a riot and things got so fierce, it seemed like the whole city was screaming and throwing things. Saul and B. got knocked around a lot but they didn't defend themselves--how could they, against the mob? The people shook their fists, spat on them and drove them out of the city.
I stayed around long enough to organize the city elders to keep the heresy from thriving in Antioch: mark out the Christians and threaten them, take away their jobs, hold their families captive, etc. Whatever it takes to get this thing quieted down.
By the time I caught up with the heretics, they were gathered outside the city, stamping the dust of Antioch off their feet. I thought at first they were going to hold a council to see how to get revenge but they dropped to their knees and looked to heaven and praised God. It floored me, I'll tell you. I've never seen men look so doggone happy.
Agent Aleph
Lystra
Chief,
When I saw the Christians start for Iconium, I was sure they were aiming straight for home. But no. In Iconium we had the same pattern: the believers invaded the synagogue, talked Jews and God-fearers over to their side, and even healed some of the blind and crippled people of the city.
You should see these men under pressure--unified, earnest, as if they're competing in team sports. The Jews were enraged and got some of the Gentiles angry, too. The whole city was divided and the only question even between friends was "Whose side are you on?" There were bloody, bitter fights in the streets between brothers. The rulers got right in the middle of it all and grabbed Saul and B., tearing their robes and beating them. Before anyone knew what had happened, it was one big free-for-all and stones were whizzing overhead. Somehow, Saul and B. ripped themselves loose and made a dash for it. They left the city in chaos, with soldiers trying to force some sort of order.
This rioting got out of hand. The injuries were tragic--I wish we could stop the heresy without violence. The Christians have no right to break the law and turn people against each other like that. Still, the persecution was out of all proportion to the crime. These men were really doing people some physical good and it isn't really their fault their message is a controversial one.
B. was hit by a rock and has a bad gash near one eye--just for helping a blind man see and giving a little crippled girl a whole arm again! That was unfair. They haven't said a word against the Iconians, though; they just keep talking affectionately about some of the ones who took a stand with them in the melee and wonder aloud how they are doing.
Agent Aleph
Derbe
Chief,
We had quite a time in Lystra. Saul ordered a lame men to get up and the man jumped to his feet perfectly whole. Incredible. You should see some of the magic these men do.
Well, the people are unbelievably superstitious and thought Saul and B. were gods! They bowed in a circle around them, kissing their robes and feet, calling them Zeus and Hermes. What a commotion! It was bad enough to be stoned but to be worshiped was almost worse. Saul was horrified and B. was so embarrassed he was at a loss for words.
All of a sudden, in comes this priest, fat and perspiring, with all his satins and beads and baubles on, carrying flowers and presents and followed by a whole retinue of men prodding oxen before them. They set up shop nearby and announced to the crowds that Zeus had come to earth and everyone must offer a sacrifice to him!
Poor B. He didn't look much like a god. He looked like a panic-stricken young man. Saul nudged him and lunged into the crowd, shouting for them to stop and trying to explain that they were just men. B. joined him, tearing his own clothes in agitation and pleading with the people to worship the living God.
Most of the people didn't pay any attention. It took close to an hour to talk them out of sacrificing their cows to the men. About the time Saul and B. convinced them not to, Jews who had followed us from Antioch and Iconium pushed into the fracas and accused them of being fakes and liars.
Now all at once everyone thought Saul and B. were men claiming to be gods--as if their own misunderstanding was the result of some deliberate deception. They were indignant and lost their heads, egged on by the newcomers. They stoned Saul until he collapsed bleeding and dragged their "god" out of the city as if they were a pack of wild dogs.
We followed the crowd out and stood around Saul's battered, bloody body, where it had been dumped. B. was pale and stood over Saul as if paralyzed. I was sure he was praying.
After a long, long time, when the sun was almost down and the women who had come out to mourn for him were worn out with crying, Saul stirred! He rolled over, beaten and bruised, with one eye swollen shut. B. thanked God with a cry of joy and gave him a hand as he struggled to his feet.
We half-carried him back into the city, where one of the women let us into her house secretly and washed his cuts. After a night's sleep, as stiff and sore as he was, Saul insisted on leaving for Derbe. That man is going to drive himself to an early grave.
Agent Aleph
Antioch
Chief,
Journey over. Derbe was mild, compared to some of our escapades. A lot of people were won over and the team didn't meet anything like the opposition at Iconium. But they're gluttons for punishment. We turned around and headed for Perga--back through Lystra and Iconium and Antioch. The men were at least wise enough not to call attention to themselves openly again. They rounded up the believers and had them choose leaders and then prayed for them. (I got smart. I keep an eye out for an inn when they have these sessions--fasting seems to be standard practice.)
They couldn't take the easy way back, overland, through Tarsus. Oh, no. We caught a boat at Attalia and suffered it out. To tell the truth, B. was concerned and prayed for me and I was hardly queasy at all. The Mediterranean was a beautiful blue and we had games identifying parts of the coast as we passed them.
Had a good talk with Saul. He remembers when I was in his sleuthing class. I have to admit he's really sold on what he's doing. This "Damascus Road" experience of his must have been something pretty impressive to change Saul. He's a different man. Still tough and stubborn but not cocky like he used to be.
Back here in Antioch, the Christians got together to hear the whole story. Saul (they call him Paul now) showed his bumps and bruises and said God had given him the privilege of suffering for Christ's sake. Strange way to look at it. B. told how God had opened up a door for the Gentiles.
I sure hope we stay put for awhile.
Agent Aleph
Antioch, AD 46
Chief,
Just when I thought things had settled down for good, the lid blew off. Some men from Judea started teaching the believers that they weren't really saved unless they were circumcised.
This led to some hot debates. Paul has always held that this Jesus of Nazareth came to fulfill the law, thereby freeing people from it. B. was in the thick of the fray too. The leaders were arguing among themselves and this confused the new Christians, who didn't know what to believe.
Finally Paul and B. and some others agreed to go to Jerusalem to get an authoritative word from headquarters. I came along, too. We stopped in Phoenicia and in Samaria to tell how the Gentiles had been included in God's plan of salvation. The "Son of Encouragement" did his job well. Believers responded with exuberance. I wonder if these people ever stop praising God.
In Jerusalem, as you know from your own local agents, the debate continued to rage. Some of the Pharisees who had come over to the Christian side insisted that believers have to be circumcised. There was a lot of prayer and discussion on the subject.
Peter, who is pretty much top dog in the church there, stood his ground. He said that God had given the Holy Spirit (part of the Godhead, they say) to the Gentiles too, and that they had received him by faith, just as the Jews had. He called circumcision a yoke which no one could bear.
It was an effective argument and Paul and B. added to it the experience they had, seeing Gentiles turn to God by faith.
This apparently wasn't the first time these things had come up. I'm sure you have records on this, but I'll summarize what I know. Remember how Peter came to Antioch when Paul and B. first started working together? Peter had several Gentile friends until a group of Jewish Christians said Gentile Christians had to be circumcised. Then Peter started avoiding the Gentiles and Paul confronted him with it. He lit into Peter in front of the whole assembly, accused him of being two-faced, suddenly demanding that Gentiles live by the Jewish Law. You remember. He said heatedly that Christ made believers dead to the Law and that men cannot be justified by obeying it.
There was a big scandal and B. sided with Peter for a long time, but I didn't think much about it at the time. Now Peter and B. have both come over to see it Paul's way.
James offered a compromise. He said that Gentiles were not required to keep the Mosaic Law but that it would be good for them to stay away from immorality and sacrifices made to idols. Everyone thought that made sense.
They all pitched in and drafted a letter for Paul and B. to carry back to Antioch. Judas Barsabbas and Silas, two of the bigshots, went along to clear the matter up in person.
So things are back to normal--whatever normal is--and the church is growing like a weed.
Agent Aleph
Cyprus, AD 47
Chief,
The big break has come, just like we planned. Remember John Mark? I was sure if we used him as a wedge, Paul and B. would split.
It was Paul's idea to visit Galatia again. He wanted to see how the young believers were doing and strengthen their faith.
B. was all for it. John Mark was back in Antioch and had apologized to B. for abandoning him and Paul. He'd done some growing up and was proving to be a good right-hand man. B. had been kind of grooming him for a leadership position. So he suggested taking John Mark with them.
Paul hit the roof. He couldn't see taking a quitter along. B. didn't have a chance to explain how far J-M had come, how he'd been giving a hand in the work lately and all. Paul wouldn't hear of it. He made one of his snap decisions and that was that. Paul picked Silas to go with them, won the backing of the church and set out with their blessing for Syria and Silicia.
B. doesn't hold it against Paul--says he'll come round when he's cooled off a little. He's convinced that John mark is capable and trustworthy.
In short, Operation Opposition is a success. The movement is split, the leaders are at odds, the new believers have been shaken--
(Unless this will double their effectiveness. . .)
Meanwhile, we're back on Cyprus. B's folks are putting me up. I found out B. knows I helped get the Christians kicked out of Antioch of Pisidia--and he doesn't hold it against me! He says if I pray, God will forgive me for harassing His people.
If it's okay with you, Chief, I'd like to resign. Barnabas is going to let me stay at his house as long as I want and he'll teach me more about Jesus. I hope you understand, Chief. I've got to find out what makes this Christians so invincible.
Ex-Agent Aleph
(Written May, 1990)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment